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Monday, October 31, 2011

The husband and I had a good time this Halloween... We carved pumpkins Saturday and while I was at work tonight, Eddie passed out candy to the neighborhood children and some bigger folks too???. All in all, I have to say, life is better when you're married.

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

What if the newly found codices provided evidence of Jesus's same-sex activity? Michael Ruse imagines the implications

Michael Ruse
guardian.co.uk, Monday 4 April 2011 08.15 EDT

The question: What would you add to the Bible?

The most astounding finding from the newly discovered lead codices is that Jesus Christ was unambiguously and openly gay. He and his disciples formed a same-sex coterie, bound by feelings of love and mutual support. There are recorded instances of same-sex activity – the "beloved disciple" plays a significant role – and there is affirmation of the joys of friendship and of living and loving together.

A whole new complexion is given to that rather puzzling passage where Jesus exhorts his followers to break family ties: "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14, 26). It seems clear now that this is less a negative repudiation of family and more a positive exhortation to join in affirmation of a gay lifestyle and love.

There is at least one new parable, that of the two young men. There are clear echoes of the relationship between David and Jonathan, for Jesus speaks of one young man having his soul "knit with the soul" of the other, and loving him "as his own soul". Intriguing is evidence that the Catholics might be closer to the truth about the status of Mary, the mother of Jesus, than are the Protestants. She has a much bigger role in the life of Jesus than many hitherto expected, with Jesus frequently returning home and making much of her.

Conversely, there is at least one incident when Jesus quarrels violently with Joseph, who shows great hostility and makes wild claims about "manliness". Before, one might have thought that, given Mary's virginity, Joseph's attitude was reflecting the ambiguities of his status in the family; but now it seems more probable that we have here a classic example of the Freudian triangle: over-possessive mother, hostile father, gay son.

Why have we known so little about all of this before? A newly discovered Pauline epistle, appropriately to the Athenians, suggests a major Platonic influence, particularly of the Republic. The classically educated Paul, who was himself gay, saw that same-sex activity was inimical to the success of Christianity in the highly homophobic societies in which he lived. Hence, same-sex affections and activity were concealed, to be known to and practised by only the leaders in secret – the guardians of Christianity as one might say. Obviously, this is a tradition that has flourished and lasted. It is not by chance that John Henry Newman is being made a saint.

Finally, the most important news is that nothing in the newly discovered codices challenges in any way the essential message of Christianity. Jesus was the messiah; he died on the cross for our sins; and through his death and resurrection made possible our eternal salvation. Our overriding obligation is to love God and we do this by loving our neighbours as ourselves. Christianity will never be the same again. Christianity will go on completely unchanged.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

Friday, October 28, 2011

"Undertow" is easily one of the best films of it's genre that I've seen in many years. It is in it's essesence, a gay themed film that reminds one of "Ghost."

The story, set in a beautiful, but very conservative Peruvian coastal village centers around a married fisherman and leader in his local church, Miguel (Cristian Mercado). On the surface, Miguel and his wife are happily married, awaiting the birth of their first child, but Miguel has a secret... He has fallen in love with another man, an outsider, Santiago (Manolo Cardona), an artist who has moved there to paint, but has stayed for love of Miguel. Although their feelings are deep, mutual and passionate, Miguel insists on total secrecy, unable to come out to his wife, church or community.

Santiago, a free spirit and openly gay and unashamed chafes under the restrictions Miguel has imposed upon their relationship and love affair. Then as tensions rise and their love grows, the unthinkable happens, in an accident, Santiago drowns, but his love for Miguel does not allow his spirit to leave his lover. For a while, Miguel is happy with the situation, he is able to be with his heart's true desire, although no one else can see or hear Santiago.

But soon enough, the secret of Miguel's relationship with Santiago becomes known to everyone in his tightly knit, conversative community and with that revealation comes a realization that he must reconcile the truth of his heart and his love for Santiago with the reality of the life he stands to lose. Moreover, he longs to keep his lover by his side, albeit in the spirit while knowing that he must do what is right to release his own and Santiago's spirit from the prison that secrecy and fear has created.

Without giving away the entire plot of the film, I will say that in the end, there is a surprising moment of redemption and acceptance that suggests that perhaps the world has changed enough everywhere that someday there'll no closets, and no lies, and no reason to be anything but what you are.

Without reservations, "Undertow" gets a well deserved 5 out of 5 stars. An excellent film with fine performances, great production values and most of all, a warm, compelling, believable and redemptive human story about love.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Actor Zachary Quinto's recent coming out inspires ABC News Anchor Dan Kloeffler to come out on air while reporting on the story:

"I’ve never shared that I’m gay on-air, even though I’ve been out to my family, friends and co-workers for years. In fact, an old boyfriend — now best friend — has always given me a hard time about not doing so. But for the same reason that Zach decided to come out, I too, no longer wanted to hide this part of my life."

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

It's now been 5 years... which is 43,824 hours or 2,629,440 minutes or 157,766,400 seconds since that fateful day in the autumn of 2006. The memories of that day and of every other day touched by him since are as fresh as they were then. Even now, not a single day goes by without some thought and reminder of him. Love in all it's fearfully wonderful permutations can be a terribly cruel companion when it reminds you of love's promises unfulfilled.

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

(CNN) -- Pioneering gay rights activist Frank Kameny died Tuesday evening at home in Washington, a spokesman said. He was 86.

"He said everyone needs to know they are of value and respected, and by saying, 'Gay is good,' he thought that reflected that feeling. He wanted dignity and self-respect, and that's what he fought for," according to Bob Witeck of the Kameny Papers Project.

Kameny died peacefully of natural causes, according to his sister Edna Kameny Lavey.

He was at a Human Rights Campaign dinner a week ago in a wheelchair, she said.

"Frank Kameny led an extraordinary life marked by heroic activism that set a path for the modern LGBT civil rights movement," Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese said in a statement. "From his early days fighting institutionalized discrimination in the federal workforce, Dr. Kameny taught us all that 'Gay is Good.'

"As we say goodbye to this trailblazer on National Coming Out Day, we remember the remarkable power we all have to change the world by living our lives like Frank -- openly, honestly and authentically," said Solmonese, whose group works for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights.

A seat at the front of the audience was reserved for Kameny when President Barack Obama in December 2010 signed into law the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," which banned gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the U.S. armed forces.

Kameny attended the ceremony wearing the Combat Infantryman Badge that he was awarded for his service in World War II. Kameny recalled his service fighting in the wake of the Battle of the Bulge: "I dug my way across Europe slit trench by slit trench, practically."

But Kameny was not invited because of his heroism in World War II, but for his work toward changing the military policy of discharging homosexuals.

Kameny, who had been discharged from the Army Map Service in 1957 for being gay, led a demonstration at the Pentagon in 1965. Kameny called upon the nascent gay rights movement to model itself upon the civil rights movement.

The homophile movement, as it was called at the time, said that homosexuals were triply condemned: The medical establishment deemed them mentally ill, the law made them criminals and religions branded them sinners.

At a time when lesbians and gay men were so ostracized, the homophile movement decided its best tactic was to embrace the label of sickness: at least that seemed a half-step up from being criminals. But Kameny argued that such an approach was counterproductive, and that gay people should demand equality with heterosexuals. To gain equality, he argued, the movement needed to assert itself.

Kameny led the way in tactics such as public demonstrations, went on the attack against the Civil Service Commission for its policy of firing homosexuals, and spearheaded an effort to get the homophile movement to take the position that homosexuality was not only not a mental illness but was on a par with heterosexuality.

In 1968, he got the only existing national association of gay rights organizations to adopt as its slogan a phrase that Kameny had coined, "Gay is Good."

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

Really, a song about much more than love... A song about belonging to the universe. I hear it often and I've always loved it. It was recorded around the time I made my fearful discovery as a very young boy that I was different. It would be fully 35 years later that I would acknowledge the truth that this song conveys in such poignant lyrics that every time I hear it, I am reminded of the entire journey... Love's Journey.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

The husband and I had a wonderful time last week. I took a week off from work and we went to Las Vegas to see the sights. Although I'd been to Las Vegas several times before, seeing the amazement and joy in Eddie's eyes made the experience completely new for me. I realized that just as I've always believed, happiness comes from making those you love happy.

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

There are some who leave indelible marks upon your heart and your life... He was one of these. Perhaps someday, we'll meet again, talk and he'll tell me the truth. He knew my truth, I asked for nothing more than love.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

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